Mercedes-AMG A 35 4MATIC Saloon review

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The A 35 4MATIC is the entry-level model from Mercedes-AMG. Here's the Saloon version. Jonathan Crouch reports.

Ten Second Review

This A 35 4MATIC Saloon represents one of the most affordable routes into Mercedes-AMG ownership and is engineered first and foremost for driving enjoyment. Here, we check out the Saloon alternative to the usual hatch body style. As with that variant, with 306hp, 4WD and potentially the classiest cabin in the segment, there's a lot of promise here.

Background

'A35' is a moniker that clearly doesn't mean much to Mercedes but in our market, it evokes memories amongst older car enthusiasts of the old Austin model of the Fifties and Sixties, the van version of which was immortalised by Wallace and Gromit. The 1976 F1 World Champion James Hunt had one and reckoned it was more fun to drive than his company Mercedes. But would he have felt the same way if the Stuttgart brand had given him something like this? After all, who could resist this combination of power, traction and quality?

The A 35 is the sporting A-Class model you'd buy if you'd decided that the 218hp front-driven A 250 AMG variant wasn't quite enough. And you'd reasoned that the top A 45 Mercedes-AMG model (which offers either 387 or 421hp) was just that little bit too much. Look at it like that and it does seem as if this A 35 might hit something of a small sports saloon sweet spot.

Driving Experience

So here we are with yet another compact car offering 4WD and a turbo engine putting out around 300hp. It's such a familiar recipe isn't it, but this is a popular sweet spot in the shopping rocket market that Mercedes has never properly addressed. The brand claims that the A 35 is much more than just a warmed-up version of a company rep's A250. True, it does share the same basic 'M260'-series 2.0-litre engine as an A250 but to that unit, the Affalterbach engineers have added a twin scroll turbocharger that boosts power to 306hp and enables 62mph from rest to be reached in just 4.7s on the way to a top speed that has to be artificially limited to 155mph.

For sharp handling, the Mercedes-AMG brand has here installed a faster-reacting 4MATIC AWD system, bolted on sticky Pirelli P-Zero tyres, added in a clever 'AMG DYNAMICS' torque vectoring system for extra cornering stability and made the body and platform of this car far more torsionally rigid. Plus it's included a quicker-shifting SPEEDSHIFT DCT' 7-speed paddle shift auto gearbox set-up featuring more urgent control software and case-hardening for the first three ratios to allow for tyre-smoking starts that'll be aided by a 'RACE START' launch control mode. To get the most from it all, you'll want to play with the various settings of the 'AMG DYNAMIC SELECT' drive mode system.

Design and Build

This four-door saloon is based on a wheelbase of 2,729 millimetres and displays the powerful proportions of a dynamic, and at the same time, compact sedan with sporty short overhangs at the front and rear. The radiator grille with twin louvres; the AMG Line front apron with flics on the air intakes; a front splitter; and silver chrome trim elements are distinguishing AMG design features.

In the side view, the aerodynamically optimised 18-inch light-alloy wheels in five twin-spoke design and the side sill panels of the AMG Line catch the eye. The two-part tail lamps and the smart diffuser insert underscore the rear end and emphasise the width. Additionally, there's a spoiler lip on the boot lid and two round tailpipe trims are positioned on the extreme left and right.

The customer can choose between three AMG display styles for the instrument cluster. The Supersport mode is particularly striking with a central, round rev counter and additional information presented in the form of bars to the left and right of the rev counter. Obviously, this saloon variant differs from the hatch A 35 variant more in the rear. The roofline isn't so swept back as to limit headroom, while the wide-opening doors allow easy access. Mercedes claims there's class-leading headroom in the back. It'll still be tight for three adults though. The boot, which offers 420-litres of space, is 50-litres bigger than that of the hatch, though has a narrower opening.

Market and Model

The A 35 4MATIC Saloon prices at around £46,000, around £120 more than the hatch version, so it's much more accessible than the faster A 45 model (priced from around £63,000). But most likely A 35 buyers will probably want to spend more. There's a choice of 'Executive', 'Premium' and 'Premium Plus' trim levels, the latter taking your spend up to over £51,000.

Across the range, expect to find features like a 10.25-inch instrument cluster, ambient lighting with a choice of 64 colours, illuminated door sills, keyless entry, a mid-range sound system and a rear armrest. The 'Premium Plus' package adds a Burmester surround sound system, electrically-adjustable front memory seats, a Panoramic glass sunroof and Multibeam LED headlights with Adaptive Highbeam Assist Plus.

The brand's 'Driving Assistance package' of camera-driven safety equipment includes Active Blind Spot Assist, Active Braking Assist with a cross-traffic function, Active Distance Assist DISTRONIC, Active Emergency Stop Assist, Active Lane-change Assist, Active Speed Limit Assist, Active Steering Asist, Evasive Steering Assist, Pre-Safe Plus and route-based speed adjustment.

Cost of Ownership

We should mention that the saloon version of this A 35 is fractionally more frugal and cleaner than the alternative hatch variant, even though the sedan is 15kgs heavier; work that one out. The A 35 Saloon manages up to 34.0mpg on the WLTP combined cycle and 189g/km of CO2.

So what's been done with the engineering of this car to promote running cost efficiency? Well, Mercedes says that the 2.0-litre engine's twin scroll technology reduces exhaust gas back pressure, thereby improving gas exchange and engine efficiency. Other engineering measures that help in this regard include CAMTRONIC variable valve control, intelligent thermal engine management, high-precision piezo injectors, multi-spark ignition and patented 'CONICSHAPE' cylinder honing that reduces internal engine friction.

Unlike an ordinary A-Class, the A 35's 'DYNAMIC SELECT' driving mode system doesn't feature a frugal 'Eco' setting but if you keep this car in its 'Comfort' mode, the auto gearbox will upshift itself earlier to promote frugality. Plus in the 'Comfort' and 'Slippery' modes, an ECO start/stop system will be activated to cut the engine when you don't need it, stuck in traffic or waiting at the lights.

Summary

There's lots to appreciate here. We like the fact that you can choose either a subtle or an overtly sporty look; obvious rivals usually restrict you to either one or the other. And the A 35 comes with a couple of things that'll really sell this car to you in the showroom and on the test drive; the most sophisticated cabin in the sector and a sports exhaust with aural fireworks that could give a trip to the dry cleaners something of the feel of a lap of Silverstone. Which compensates somewhat for the rather over-firm ride and pricing which might cause something of a sharp intake of breath, once you've specced this car up as most buyers would want.

In summary, if you want a really quick small saloon that's a bit less straight-laced than the usual premium badged offerings in this segment, then you'll probably like the A 35 a lot. It's a Mercedes. And it's a lot of the things a car like this should really be. For us, that's an appealing combination.